Banana-crate.



No. 754344. PATBNTED MAR. 15;-1 9o4.

' J. A. HADLEY.

BANANA (IRATE. APPLICATION IIL ED DEC. 8, 1902.

no MODEL.

( uoen'fop Wanna WQM 074 77K Patented March 15, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA A. HADLEY, OF BRAZIL, DTDIANA.

BANANA-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,444, dated March 15, 1904.

Application filed December 8, 1902. Serial No- 134,442. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSHUA A. HADLEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brazil, in the county of Clay and State of 'Indiana, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Banana-Crates; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my crate. Fig. 2 is an end elevationof the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the crate with contents removed and collapsed. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view illustrating the engagement of hook b with one of the slats c. Fig. 5-is a detail view illustrating a catch to lock the crate in collapsed position.

This invention has relation to banana-crates, and has for its object the provision of certain new and useful improvements in collapsible crates.

With this object in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to'the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the crate of prismatic form, of trapezium form in cross-section and having the slatted sides A A connected together by suitable hinges a, allowing the crate to be collapsed for shipment after the contents have been removed. The two wider sides A of the crate have right-angle flanges a at one end hinged in such wise as to form when closed the top and bottom of the collapsed crate, a space being left between them for the reception of the two narrower sides A, which fold inwardly 'therebetween.

In order to hold the crate in form and at the same time 'to serve as a support from which to suspend the bananas, the cross bars or braces B are provided for the end portions of the crate, such bars being pivoted at one angle of the crate" upon bolt 12 and extending across diagonally to the opposite angle, the free end portion of the bar having a hook Z2 designed to engage a slit or notch 0 in the end of one of the slats 0 at this point, suitable devices being employed to lock the hook in its seat, such as a set-screw 0. These braces extend across the two ends of the crate in opposite directions,so as to brace the crate against collapsing from each angle thereof.

The flexible lining D for the bananas is left open at both ends thereof, which have each a tightening string drawn therethrough, whereby they may be drawn together and closed. The end of the banana-stalk extends through the head of the lining and-is tied to the cross-bar B in such wis'e that the bunch of bananas is suspended therefrom when the crate is stood on end, taking the weight of the bananas from the flexible lining, which is otherwise likely to become strained or broken, not to mention the injury to the bananas, which would take place if resting with the full weight of the bunch upon the lowermost bananas. The opposite end of the flexible lining may be also tied to the adjacent cross-bar, so as to.

draw the lining taut between the two crossbars and away from the sides of the crate. Even should the crate be reversed in transit the weight of the bananas will still be borne by the stalk and cross-bar. The sides of the lining may be tied to the slats of the crate at d to mutually hold the lining away from the solid sides of the crate. Both ends of the lining being open, it is readily cleaned and aired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

1. A collapsible crate of trapezium form in cross-section, having hinged sides, the two longer of which have angle-flanges for the hinges to leave a space for the two shorter sides when collapsed, substantially as specified.

2. A collapsible crate of prismatic form in cross-section having hinged sides and open at both ends, and a diagonal hinged cross bar or brace at each end of the crate for suspension of the contents of the crate and to keep the crate in form, substantially as specified.

Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

JOSHUA A. HADLEY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES Hnss, I. JARBoE- 

